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Kinsler, Ross and
Gloria.
The Biblical Jubilee and the Struggle for Life: An Invitation to Personal,
Ecclesial, and Social Transformation.
Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1999.
Do you long for a world where justice reigns?
Have you been tempted by utopian visions of a perfect world?
Are you uncomfortable knowing that the new century
begins with the richest 20% of the world's people receiving over 80% of
its wealth and resources, while the poorest 20% barely survive on less
than 2%.
Does it bother you to acknowledge that we North Americans have most of
that wealth and the world's resources?
An alternative has been around for a very long time. It can be found in
Biblical injunctions which say much about how people should organize
society--a system of community life whereby no person is left out. The
Bible is full of wisdom on nearly every aspect of life, but is rarely
sought for economic insight.
The Bible an economic primer?
Ross and Gloria Kinsler, authors of The Biblical Jubilee and Struggle
for Life, say yes!
The Kinslers offer a challenging resource for examining the Biblical
intent for economic justice contained in laws honoring the Sabbath and
Jubilee. Combining numerous resources of biblical scholarship and their
many years of experience in Central America, the Kinslers invite readers
to reclaim the model of Sabbath/Jubilee economic and social justice. The
biblical call to "proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its
inhabitants" specifies God's alternative. By recovering mandates set
forth in the Hebrew scriptures, by Jesus' ministry as he read from Isaiah,
and in the practices of the early church, we discover God's intent for the
fullness of life for all.
The challenging tradition of Sabbath/Jubilee economics has seldom been
explored as a requirement for communities and nations to follow. Money has
been a more taboo subject for discussion in church than politics and sex.
During stewardship and capital campaigns we may hear parables interpreted
in support of pledging some of our resources for Christian ministry.
Rarely has theological perspective been directed to the unequal
distribution of the world's resources, or questions raised about how we
earn or choose to spend our monetary wealth.
The Kinslers challenge us to read the Bible with new focus. Theirs is a
timely guide for Christians concerned about the negative consequences of
an economic system spreading its tentacles to every corner of the world.
Renewed interpretation of the Levitical Year of Jubilee inspired the
worldwide Jubilee 2000 campaign. This effort to cancel debts of the
poorest nations is a reflection of growing recognition that the global
economy is great for the few and overwhelmingly disastrous for millions.
Tremendous burdens placed on the environment and stresses on cultures and
social systems have led faith communities to seek alternatives to
corporate rule and economic globalization.
In contrast to the mythology of free-trade, neo-liberal capitalism as
superior to other economic arrangements, the Kinslers explore Sabbath
economics as God's intent for humankind. Their book is a guide for
Christians to reflect upon the disparity between the Biblical vision of
economic and social justice and that of current economic and political
"globalization."
Copies of this book can be ordered from Orbis Books.
Book number 289-3, $17 plus $4 shipping charge (3 or more books $4.50
shipping). Charge customers: call 1-800-258-5838; Fax orders:
914-941-7636, ext. 2576 or 2477; << www.orbisbooks.com
>>
Click here
for a report on the Ghost Ranch event.
Jane Hanna, Santa Fe
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Some blogs worth visiting |
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PVJ's
Facebook page
Mitch Trigger, PVJ's
Secretary/Communicator, has created a Facebook page where
Witherspoon members and others can gather to exchange news and
views. Mitch and a few others have posted bits of news, both
personal and organizational. But there’s room for more!
You can post your own news and views,
or initiate a conversation about a topic of interest to you. |
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Voices of Sophia blog
Heather Reichgott, who has created
this new blog for Voices of Sophia, introduces it:
After fifteen years of scholarship
and activism, Voices of Sophia presents a blog. Here, we present the
voices of feminist theologians of all stripes: scholars, clergy,
students, exiles, missionaries, workers, thinkers, artists, lovers
and devotees, from many parts of the world, all children of the God
in whose image women are made. .... This blog seeks to glorify God
through prayer, work, art, and intellectual reflection. Through
articles and ensuing discussion we hope to become an active and
thoughtful community. |
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John Harris’ Summit to
Shore blogspot
Theological and philosophical
reflections on everything between summit to shore, including
kayaking, climbing, religion, spirituality, philosophy, theology,
politics, culture, travel, The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), New
York City and the Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood by a progressive
New York City Presbyterian Pastor. John is a former member of the
Witherspoon board, and is designated pastor of North Presbyterian
Church in Flushing, NY. |
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John Shuck’s Shuck and Jive
A Presbyterian minister, currently
serving as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton,
Tenn., blogs about spirituality, culture, religion (both organized
and disorganized), life, evolution, literature, Jesus, and
lightening up. |
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Got more blogs to recommend?
Please
send a note, and we'll see what we can do! |
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